In this issue, we will discuss COVID-19 infection and its effect on the cardiovascular system.
This article introduces a study that investigated the cardiovascular effects of COIVD-19 infection in hospitalized patients.It was commented that the study was only conducted on hospitalized patients, so it cannot be said that it applies to people who are not hospitalized.
Study Description
Many people who are infected with COVID-19 have few or no symptoms.
However, COVID-19 makes the blood "sticky" and can clog both small (capillaries) and large blood vessels, causing heart attacks, strokes, or blood clots in the legs or lungs.These can be fatal, and people with diabetes, high blood pressure, or existing heart problems are at a higher risk of developing such complications if infected with COVID-19.
When COVID-19 infection is confirmed or suspected, investigate the most common existing heart and blood vessel (cardiovascular) problems (e.g., diabetes, hypertension, obesity) and the most common complications affecting the heart and blood vessels in different settings (community, nursing home, hospital) (arrhythmias, blood clots, heart failure, and stroke, etc.) in a variety of settings (community, nursing home, hospital).
We found 220 studies that reported relevant information, but the quality of the information was often poor.
The studies were mainly from China and the United States.
Most of the studies had only information on a small number of cases admitted to hospitals with COVID-19, often in intensive care units.
Hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease were found to be very common in people hospitalized with COVID-19 and were associated with an increased risk of death.
More than one-third of patients with COVID-19 had a history of hypertension, and
23.5% have heart or blood vessel disease.
22.1% have diabetes mellitus
21.6% are obese.
The most common cardiovascular complications in COVID-19 patients are
Arrhythmia (atrial fibrillation; 8.5%)
Blood clots in the legs (6.1%)
Pulmonary (4.3%) thrombus
Heart failure (6.8%)
and some were more common, but the rates reported may be underestimates because studies did not always conduct adequate research.
Heart attacks (1.7%) and strokes (1.2%) were less commonly reported.
Blood tests also often suggested heart damage or stress.
Reviewer's comments
This systematic literature review indicates that cardiometabolic comorbidities are common in people who are hospitalised with a COVID- 19 infection, and cardiovascular complications. We plan to update this review and to conduct a formal meta-analysis of We plan to update this review and to conduct a formal meta-analysis of outcomes based on a more homogeneous selected subsample of high-certainty studies.
Pellicori P, Doolub G, Wong CM, Lee KS, Mangion K, Ahmad M, Berry C, Squire I, Lambiase PD, Lyon A, McConnachie A, Taylor RS, Cleland JGF. COVID -19 and its cardiovascular effects: a systematic review of prevalence studies. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2021, Issue 3. No.: CD013879. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD013879. Accessed 23 March 2021
Summary
Currently, it seems that people with known medical history and those who are overweight tend to be hospitalized.
In addition, although complications to the areas indicated have been reported, as mentioned at the beginning of this article, there seems to be insufficient information or bias for these results to be considered epidemiological.
For those who have medical history and characteristics that apply to themselves, they can only improve what they can solve and take care of what they need to take care of, but they can at least eliminate obesity, quit smoking, and review their diet.
It is important to try to avoid COVID-19 infection, but it is also important to create an environment that is curable even if you do get it.
